National Republican., 1887-01-29

interests Of the state gathered, and before
him all public men bowed, for their ad.
vancement seemed hopeless without his
favor.
Mr.. Davis's lecture marked him out for
the special hostility OF this king, especially
as the ideas he advanced grew In popular
favor. The leading journals OF his state
were hostile to him, and the more so as
the country newspapers began to praise
him. All he garnered from his unpaid
efforts was notoriety that rushed him into
Il lucrative law practice, which has grown
with his years OF hard study, until now no
one disputes his right to be considered the
leader OF the bar In the northwest.
In 1871 the st. Paul Dispatch, half jocu-
larly, put him in nomination for governor.
Flush times were then on the wane The
people were feeling more OF the real and
imaginary burdens Of the railroads, and
found that they had too literally discounted
the future In view OF their supposed ben.
etits. That nomination met with favor
that surprised everybody aud alarmed not
a few. Despite all the efforts OF almost all
the leading men and influences Of the state,
Mr. Davis was nominated aud elected gov
ernor.
AT the expiration Of his first term In 1875
he resumed the practice OF his profession,
and also gave himself to library pursuits.
How he found time for the latter, consider
ing the ever growing extent OF his practice,
is a mystery. These las. twelve years have
been rich years OF development to him.
Ambitious to represent his state IN the
Senate, he yet bIded his tine, for he well
| knew that his only hope OF success was In
the popular favor. None knew better
| than he that In state so
cursed by political rings as Minnesota,
| the party managers would so manipulate
caucuses aud conventions as to drown the
popular voice. In state where nomina-
| tiOns are equivalent TO elections small, cum
ming men rule, men without either the men
tai or moral power TO discover the real
] greatness Of the new senator-elegt.
But In the Republican state convention Of
| 1854, chosen without any reference tO the
senatorial question, II was evident that the
| people bad determined that "Cush" Davis
should be their next senator aud In the
| late campaign they made sure that no
| jugglery should defeat their desires, many
! Republican aud some Democratic legislative
conventions iustrurtiug for him.
| lie will come to the Senate feeling that
| he owes favOrs tO nOclique or ring, business
or political. No senator since the days Of
| CLAY, Calhoun, and Webster can more
proudly say, my own right hand hath
brought to me the victory" than can Gov.
| Davis. lie Is not the creature uf able Jour
| nails; manipulated conventions have given
him no prominence, the leaders In politics
aud business have not miuistered 10
his ambition, hut the people ut Minnesota,
! speaking with a rare uuauimiiN, and With
much disregard Of party, have steruly, aud
| now successfully, demanded his election.
During all these long years "tush' Davis
has been the peoples candidate, ana except
his own ability, aud with that popular favor
has been his only political capital,
with a trained Intellect, a ready com,
maud Of general principles, which he will
not allow Ia 81 combat him as 20 make him
the mere philosopher instead ot the states
man, with ready speech aud enectual elo
ence, Minnesota will have In Gov, Davis d
senator Of whom she can he proud, no mat
ter with which state comparisons may be
instituted.
In person MIR. Davis l. about , feet II
inches high, Ot comfortable rutundity, and
hears u marked resemblance to Geu e. f.
Butler, although he Is a much better look,
Ing man than the gentleman from Massar
Chusetts. He IN an eloquent man, hut hi.
eloquence Is of thought, aud whom having
nothing to say, he lsa tame, dry speaker,
His rapid impctuosity " speech will
make him terror To the Senate
reporters, although his thin, hut
pleasant voice makes very easy
to hear his every sentence, That impet
uOsity Is of thought, not Of words or mere
emotions His style Is plain, never ornate
and he never Oyerhuriens II with the ricks,
Of his learning Never having been, In Ia,
ordinary sense, a politician, In the Sen te
he will he u statesman, His convictions
aud his whole mental training will place
him on advance ground, hut he will neve
forget that asa senator he is primarily
representative Of the people.
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